Breakfast

I’ve had mornings where even simple foods don’t sit well. Eating something gentle, like a banana, sounds like a smart way to keep it simple and still get some nutrients. Once found a place called skai.sg that offers thoughtful, easy-on-the-stomach options, which made a difference on tough days. It’s true, the link between digestion and neurological stuff seems real for many, so finding what works is key.

I eat every morning

oat meal with raisins and honey

2 pieces of fruit (limited to what I'm not allergic to)

a cup of french roast coffee.

and some vitamins and herbs.

then I have a glass of kombucha.

Lunch is a rotating menu between 4 different meals,

so wednesday is always an swiss chard omelet with rice, thursday

a beyond (meatlless) burger with rice and a steamed veggie

etc...

I stick to my diet of things I am not allergic to and I feel

fantastic for it and can keep a clear head and heart.

I am one of the unlucky people who have autism and the genetic abnormality of the intestines that is associated with autism and related developmental disorders. Because of that I struggle to eat breakfast, or to eat at all.

On some days, I eat some lactose-free cheese in the morning.

On other days, I have some rice cakes or a few slices of crispbread.  

All of this is easy to digest. I used to eat porridge in the morning, but this breakfast hasn't worked for me for a few years now. But many people tolerate porridge very well, even on an upset stomach or when ill. 

I'm usually nauseous by the afternoon. Some days I cannot eat anything in the morning. On those days, I try to eat a few slices of apple, orange, or pear around 12:00 in the hope of getting some vitamins.

Sometimes I manage to eat some berries or another kind of fruit if they're in season.

I get vitamin B12 and vitamin D injections from my doctor because I was malnourished and developed something called pernicious anemia, which caused the nerves in my feet to go bonkers. And I take folic acid tablets.

I usually feel slightly better in the evening and eat things like potatoes, sweet potatoes.

My nutrition is far from ideal, but getting nutrition through a tube or drinking nutritional drinks failed because my intestines could not digest those things. But for some people it's managable to sustain themselves with those drinks. But those drinks are very sweet. 

I know that people who do NOT have autism and do NOT have an intestinal abnormality, but have an inflammatory disease like Crohn's or colitis, get more help when it comes to nutritional problems or problems with their stomach and intestines.

Because I have a disability like autism, it's hard to get the same treatment as neurotypicals. It is not common to treat people with this disability in the same way as "normal" patients. 

So in my case, doctors were afraid that "mentally ill" people might have complications.They hesitate to do much.  It doesn't matter that autism is not a form of mental illness. 

I just try to eat what I can because I have to stay alive for a while. 

This was info dumping. I tend to do that. Just ignore the paragraphs that are too much.

I don't have any GI problems, but I am a picky eater. I don't eat meat (most of the time... I did cheat and eat some bacon on Mother's Day... But half of that went in Penny's (my dog) belly).  If I eat breakfast, it's either cereal, crepes, French toast, or pancakes. Some days we don't have anything I want to eat and some days I don't have time. During the homeschool time of Covid, I never ate breakfast and just jumped right into my schoolwork.

I always stick to fruit and fibre as its a healthier option and i personally enjoy it seems to fill me up all day

You never know. I used to always skip it, but things changed. 

My mum is like that she's got a cupboard kitted out with loads of different cereals, different ones for each day. She's always loved breakfast, whereas I take after my dad who never eats breakfast either and never has.

Deleted User said:

I am not naturally a breakfast person - I find waking up and starting the day very difficult and my stomach takes even longer.

I'm like that - takes me an absolute age to get started in the mornings lol usually still just as tired as I was when I went to bed. And never in the mood for breakfast.

I've been told by my doctor and my dietician to start eating breakfast but I really don't know whether I could stomach it. I doubt it. Most foods hurt.

Deleted User said:

Apparently we should ideally have a savoury breakfast. They’ll probably decide that’s wrong too at some point.

Most likely

Breakfast is the meal I have least anxiety about so I like it. I have half a cupboard full of different types of cereal and change it up a lot. 

I am not naturally a breakfast person - I find waking up and starting the day very difficult and my stomach takes even longer.

But for the last year or two I’ve made an effort to have porridge or cereal in the morning.

But recently I’ve been reading that they both cause a glucose spike that just makes you tired later in the day.

Apparently we should ideally have a savoury breakfast. They’ll probably decide that’s wrong too at some point.

I know it's not a solution, but peppermint tea is quite soothing - I found this really helped my pain/upset stomach when I was really suffering. That and green tea. Chamomile is also a great choice for helping feel calm, which I like to have before bed. 

EmsaStrange said:

There is definitely a link somewhere with GI problems I think, what that is, I'm not sure. Doctor said I had IBS a few years back after I struggled with severe bloating and stomach pain after eating anything. 

Currently this is one of my biggest problems as well. I get pain afterwards and sometimes nausea and acid reflux, very occasionally vomiting if I'm unlucky. I've had so many tests but nothing ever came back so it's assumed to be IBS and stress, linked with autism.

I try to watch my diet to make sure I don't eat anything too triggering. I'm trying to cut out sugary foods and drinks as at the moment I consume way too much sugar and this makes it a lot worse.

I am on and off with eating breakfast - some days I'm not bothered, other days I will eat it because I'm very hungry. 

I usually eat cheesy scrambled eggs as it's a good source of protein and then have a little pot of blueberries - keeps me full until lunch time. :-)

There is definitely a link somewhere with GI problems I think, what that is, I'm not sure. Doctor said I had IBS a few years back after I struggled with severe bloating and stomach pain after eating anything. 

I went through a period where I ate keto/carnivore diet, which oddly really helped my stomach problems (kind of like a hard reset) - FYI I'm not suggesting going on any diet, just sharing my experience. 

Now, I'm gluten free and just stick to less processed food, more organic, animal-focused diet, which is good in protein and lots of greens. Have to say, I have a bit of an obsession with sweet potato and butternut squash at the moment - both are so yummy!!

AutisticDisneyFan said:

I wonder what the link is with GI problems and autism? I guess there is actually a link.

May be worth looking into the Brain-Gut connection a bit more as there is science behind this.